Harmonica apparatus



Jan. 5, 1954 E. A. zlELlNsKl 2,664,775

HARMONICA APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1951 IO I9 2e l2 24 'I '5 27w29/loI9 /H mMMQQ@@(QDQ@Q@pepGewinn);,A

Zilli.

Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 2,66 4,7 7 5 HARMONICA APPARATUS Edward A. Zielinski, Berwyn, Ill., assgnor of onehalf to Joseph S. Kishel, Brookfield, Ill.

Application July 25, 1951, Serial No. 238,461

3 Claims.

This invention relates to harmonica apparatus and particularly to a holder unit which is adapted to hold an harmonica and an amplifier' pickup therefor.

More particularly, this invention relates to a holder unit or casing in which an conventional harmonica may be removably mounted in position of use relative to an amplifier pickup also mounted in the holder unit or casing to the end that the complete assembly may be held readily in the hands of the player and the music played upon the harmonica picked up and amplied by means of a conventional amplifier system associated with and electrically connected to the amplier pickup.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel holder unit or casing which is adapted to hold an harmonica and an amplier pickup associated therewith so that the harmonica may be played and the music produced thereby picked up and amplified by means of a suitable amplifier apparatus electrically connected with the ampliiier pickup.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel combination of an harmonica, amplifier pickup therefor, and a holder unit or casing in which the harmonica and amplifier are mounted in such a manner that the entire assembly may be readily held in the hands of the player during the operation cf playing upon the harmonica and so that the music produced thereby will be picked up by the amplier pickup and amplified.

Other and further objects of the present invention wl be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing which by way of illustration, shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as 1desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the new holder unit, portions of one wall thereof being broken Aaway to reveal the structure thereof, an harmonica and amplifier pickup being shown as being mounted in position of use therein;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the new holder unit, harmonica, and amplifier pickup mounted in position of use therein;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the assembly shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view on e 4-il in Fig. 14, -showing the ,arrangement of 2 the harmonica and amplifier' pickup in the new holder unit; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan View showing the mounting of the amplier pickup in the new holder unit.

A preferred embodiment of the new harmonica unit is illustrated in the drawing, wherein it is generally indicated at I0, and comprises an elongated and generally rectangular-shaped holder unit in the form of a casing or housing I I which may be made of any suitable material such, for example, as any suitable synthetic plastic resinous material, light metal, such as aluminum, or the like. The casing II includes spaced generally parallel side walls I2, spaced end walls I3, and a bottom wall I 4, the housing or casing II having an open top or throat 29 for the reception. of an harmonica, which is generally indicated at i9, and which includes an elongated body having spaced end portions 20 and 2I and a manual control slide 22, and a playing face 28. The holder casing or housing II is also adapted to receive and to hold an amplifier pickup, which is generally indicated at 23, and which includes a generally annular-shaped body 26 on which a resilient rubber or like resilient ring 21 is removably mounted (Figs. 1 and 4).

As shown in the drawing, each of the side walls I2 of the holder casing I I has an outwardly flared boss portion I5 formed centrally therein between the ends thereof and each of the end walls I3 of the casing II has an outwardly pro- Jecting guide boss portion I6 formed therein, of relatively reduced width, compared to the width of the holder casing II, for a purpose which will be described presently.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, one of the end wall bosses I6 (right hand end as seen in Fig. 2) has a vertically extending slot I'I formed therein and extending partially downwardly therein, for a purpose which will be described presently.

The bottom wall I4 of the holder casing II has an upwardly extending generally annularshaped rib I8 formed therein, and this upwardly extending generally annular-shaped rib I8 is concentric with the outwardly flared boss portions I5 of the side walls I2, for a reason which will be explained presently.

In the use of the new harmonica holder unit, the harmonica I 9 may be slidably and removably inserted into the holder casing II in such a manner that the top of the harmonica I9 (as seen in the drawing) is arranged centrally and longitudinally of the holder casing II, with the laterally projecting end portion 20 of the harmonica projecting into the guide boss I6 in one end wall I3 of the holder casing II, and with the other end portion 2l of the harmonica I9 projecting into the other guide boss I6 in the other end wall I3 of the holder casing II. When the harmonica I9 is so disposed the laterally projecting handle of the control slide 22 of the harmonica extends vertically through the slot II in the adjacent end wall I3 of the casing II and so that the harmonica I9 is positioned in the manner shown in the drawing and in such a position as will enable it readily to be played when the assembled holder casing Il and harmonica I9, and amplier pickup 23, Vare held in the players hands.

, In order to amplify the music produced by the harmonica i9, a conventional amplifier microphone pickup unit 23 is mounted in the well or receptacle provided therefor by the upwardly extending generally annular rib I8 on the bottom wall Ill of the casing II and the outwardly flared portions I5 oi the side walls I2 of the casing Il which cooperate to form a `receptacle or Well for the reception of the amplifier pickup unit 23. When the parts are so arranged the resilient rubber or like ring 21 is slightly compressed and frictionally engages and grips the generally annular-shaped rib or wall I8 and the outwardly flared central portions of the side walls I?. of the holder casing II. This resilient clamping ring 2l has an annular frame 3G formed therein and it also has a depending annular skirt portion 3l which projects downwardly inside the rib i8 (Figs. l and 4) Thus it will be seen that the generally annular-shaped rib i3 and the resilient rubber or like ring 2l provide a means for removably holding the generally annular-shaped body 2-5 of the amplilier pickup unit 23 centrally in the casing II and between the inner side of the harmonica and the bottom wall la of the casing Il.

It will be noted that when the harmonica I9 is in position of use in the holder casing Il it projects centrally and longitudinally through the casing II with the bottom thereof resting upon the apex of the body 26 of the microphone pickup unit 23 and with the playing face 2B of the harmonica i9 projecting outwardly of the body of the casing il, through the open throat 29 thereof, so that the playing face 23 of the harmonica is readily accessible to the player.

To assemble the new harmonica apparatus or unit Ii! the amplier microphone pickup 23 may be readily mounted in the receptacle or well provided by the generally annular-shaped rib I8 and the outwardly flared portions l5 of the side walls l2 of the casing by forcing the resilient clamping ring 2l downwardly, upon the generally annular-shaped rib I8, so that the upper edge portion of the rib I3 engages in an annular shoulder 3l) formed in the clamping ring 2l and so that the skirt 3l of the clamping ring 2l extends downwardly inside of and is slightly compressed within and frictionally engages the inner surface of the generally annular-shaped rib I8.

When it is desired to disassemble the new harmonica apparatus or unit iD this may be readily accomplished by merely withdrawing the harmonica i9 from the body of the holder casing I I, through the open throat 29 thereof, and then merely withdrawing the yeldable rubber or like clamping ring 21 from the receptacle or well provided by the generally annular-shaped rib I8 and theJ outwardly flared portions I5 of the side walls I2 of 'the holder casing l I.

AWhen the parts are arranged as shown in the drawing, the ampliiier pickup unit 23 is disposed immediately below and centrally of the harmonica I9 and the amplifier pickup unit 23 may be electrically connected by a suitable conductor 24, and jack, not shown, to any suitable amplifier unit and loud speaker therefor, such, for example, as the loud speaker o f a radio receiver apparatus, .orzthe like. To-this end an electrical conductor cord 24 extends through an opening 2,5 formed in one wall I2 of the holder casing II, adjacent the bottom wall Iii (Fig. 4).

When the assembled holder casing iI, harmonica IS., and amplifier unit 23 are held in the players handsv and played the musical sounds emanating from the harmonica I9 will be picked up by the amplifier or microphone pickup unit 23 and `amplified in the form of electrical pulsations carried by and through the conductor 2li to a suitable loud speaker, not shown.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a novel harmonica unit for an harmonica and amplifier microphone or pickup therefor, and a novel combination of a holder casing, harmonica and amplifier microphone or pickup, having the desirable advantages and characteristics, and accomplishing their intended objects, including those hereinbeiore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

I claim:

1. A holder unit for an harmonica and amplifier therefor comprising an elongated and generally rectangular shaped casing including spaced generally parallel side walls and spaced generally parallel end walls and a bottom wall, said casing being open at the top for the recep tion of said harmonica therein, guide bosses formed at said end walls to open toward one another, each of said bosses dening an upwardly opening recess oi a width and configuration to slidably receive and irictionally hold the ends of said harmonica to releasably position the same in said casing, and means arranged within said casing and between the vbottom wall of the casing and the bottom of said harmonica for mounting an amplier microphone pickup, said lastnamed means including an upstanding annular rib formed integral at the bottom of said casing.-

2. A holder unit as dened in claim 1 in which each of said guide bosses is in the form of an outwardly projecting guide portion formed in each end wall thereof of reduced width, relative to the width of the body of said casing, and in which said outwardly projecting guide portions are adapted to slidably receive and guide the end portions of said harmonica.

3. A holder unit as defined in claim 1 in which each oi said side walls has an outwardly flared portion formed therein, and in which said outwardly flared portions cooperate with said rib to provide a well for the reception of said amplider pickup.

EDWARD A. ZIELINSKI.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Y 2,486,264 Armond 1- Oct. 25, 1 949 2,565,100 Tate Aug. 2l, V195i FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 49,383 Austria .v.- Feb.A 191i 

